Diamaduros Makes History as Owls Top Gastonia
July 13, 2011 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Forest City Owls News Release
FOREST CITY, N.C. - The Race for 159 was neck and neck heading into tonight, as Forest City's Konstantine Diamaduros and Fayetteville's Eric Grabe were tied at 158 career hits, one shy of breaking Will Skinner's CPL record mark. In a 6-4 victory over the Gastonia Grizzlies Wednesday night, Diamaduros crossed the finish line first in front of his home fans at McNair Field. The Owls, winners of five consecutive games and eight of their last nine contests, improve to 8-3 in the second half and 24-14 overall. The Grizzlies slip to 4-7 in the second half and 17-21 overall.
Diamaduros led off the bottom of the fifth inning with the ballgame tied 2-2. The Owls left fielder, 0-2 heading into that at-bat, smacked the first pitch on a line into center field. With that leadoff single, Diamaduros racked up his 159th career hit, surpassing former Owls teammate and close friend Will Skinner for the top spot in the CPL's all-time career hits list. Play was stopped as both teams emerged from the dugout to salute Diamaduros' feat and 2,116 fans rose to their feet to regale the three-year Owls veteran with a standing ovation.
Forest City starter Jeremy Fant earned his third win of the season. The Rice sophomore tossed six innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on two hits, striking out seven batters and walking four. Gastonia's Rick Marks took his third loss of the season after throwing 5 2/3 innings, giving up five runs (three earned) on nine hits. Owls closer Adam Izokovic recorded his ninth save of the season.
After Gastonia fired the opening salvo with a run in the top of the first inning, the Owls struck back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Craig Manuel singled through the hole at short, bringing home Danny Canela. On the next at-bat, with the bases still juiced, Michael Basil hit a roller to short. Basil beat out the relay throw from second, allowing Axel Johnson to score. The Owls led 2-1 until the top of the fourth, when Gastonia's Tyler White scored on a passed ball.
The game was all knotted up at 2-2 in the top of the sixth frame when the Grizzlies' Justin Vsquez blasted a two-run home run over the right field wall, giving Gastonia a 4-2 lead. Gastonia's advantage would be short-lived, as the Owls went off for three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Forest City added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning, when Reed Harper's sacrifice fly scored Buddy Sosnoskie. Izokovic preserved the Owls' victory by retiring the Grizzlies in order in the top of the ninth.
Manuel went 4-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Harper went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Vsquez was the only Grizzlies batter to record a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBIs and a run scored.
The Owls will travel to Asheboro tomorrow night to square off against the Copperheads. First pitch at McCrary Park is set for 7:05 PM.
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Coastal Plain League Stories from July 13, 2011
- Forest City's Diamaduros Breaks CPL Career Hits Record - Coastal Plain
- Diamaduros Makes History as Owls Top Gastonia - Forest City Owls
- Fayetteville at Florence Rained Out - Fayetteville SwampDogs
- Steamers Score Late, Win Sixth in a Row - Edenton Steamers
- HiToms drop heartbreaker to Mustangs - High Point-Thomasville HiToms
- Tobs Snap 3-Game Skid with 5-3 Win Over Daredevils - Wilson Tobs
- Sharks Win Rain-Shortened Contest Over Columbia - Wilmington Sharks
- Blowfish Lose Weather-Shortened Game - Lexington County Blowfish
- Forest City's Diamaduros Sets CPL Career RBIs Record - Coastal Plain
- Legion game to be replayed - High Point-Thomasville HiToms
- Tobs Send Three All-Stars to Fayetteville - Wilson Tobs
- Three Sharks named All-Stars - Wilmington Sharks
- Daughtry, Mathews and Wieber head to Fayetteville... - Wilson Tobs
- Five HiToms named CPL All-Stars - High Point-Thomasville HiToms
- Mighty Dollar Wednesday - High Point-Thomasville HiToms
- Six SwampDogs Highlight CPL American All-Star Roster - Fayetteville SwampDogs
- 2011 CPL American All-Star Team Announced - Coastal Plain
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